UNIVERSITY  ARCHIVES 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


NEEDS   OF  THE   STATE    UNIVERSITY. 


The  University  of  California  has  outgrown  its  present 
resources. 

The  income  of  the  University  is  but  little  larger  than  it 
was  five  years  ago.  From  that  income,  buildings  have  been 
erected,  within  the  five  years,  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $200,000, 
and  their  equipment  is  still  incomplete.  These  large  outlays 
have  been  on  the  scientific  side  of  the  University,  in  response 
to  the  modern  imperative  demands  of  scientific  and  practical 
education. 

Within  the  last  four  years  the  number  of  students  at  Berkeley 
has  more  than  doubled,  and  is  now  over  one  thousand.  This 
large  increase  has  necessitated  the  doubling  of  the  teaching  force. 

With  its  new  buildings  and  its  increased  salary  roll,  the 
University  has  come  to  an  acute  financial  crisis.  Its  surprising 
prosperity  threatens  seriously  to  impair  its  usefulness.  It  can 
not  give  adequate  facilities  to  the  students  whom  it  has  invited 
to  its  halls. 

Its  class-rooms  are  overcrowded,  its  laboratories  are  becoming 
insufficient.  Some  of  its  departments  are  badly  housed.  The 
Museum  is  choked  with  undisplayed  treasures.  The  health- 
giving  Gymnasium  has  but  half  the  needed  space  and  appliances. 
There  is  no  fit  Armory,  and  no  drill-room.  The  Faculty  records 
are  insecure  in  a  wooden  building.  The  hundreds  of  young 
women  have  for  a  day-home  only  one  room  in  a  basement. 
There  is  no  assembly  room  for  public  gatherings. 

A  large  central  building  would  meet  many  of  these  wants, 
and  give  relief  to  several  important  departments.  Such  a 
building  was  specified  as  a  prime  necessity,  in  the  Act  of 
March  28,  1872  :  after  twenty-two  years  it  is  still  to  be  built. 

If  other  claims  and  the  financial  condition  of  the  State  make 
it  impracticable  to  build  this  "California  Hall"  at  present,  other 
very  necessary  accommodations  can  be  furnished  for  half  the 
sum.  Plans  have  been  matured  for  a  cheap  structure  which  will 


serve  three  important  uses.  Another  more  substantial  building 
would  give  relief  to  several  scientific  departments. 

If  the  State  will  provide  the  new  buildings  so  much  needed, 
the  stated  income  can  be  made  to  cover  the  increased  cost  of 
instruction. 

The  professional  Colleges,  in  San  Francisco,  are  also  in  need 
of  much  better  facilities.  The  Medical  Department,  in  particular, 
is  doing  good  work  in  circumstances  most  unfavorable  and  dis- 
couraging. Its  claims  for  relief  are  the  strongest  possible. 

By  the  Constitution  of  California,  the  University  is  made 
"a  public  trust;"  a  trust  to  be  so  administered  as  to  secure 
healthful  growth  and  permanent  prosperity  to  the  University. 

Appended  are  a  few  notes  of  what  other  Western  States  are 
doing  for  State  Universities. 

Missouri  gave  to  its  University,  for  the  years  1891-92  (in- 
cluding extraordinary  expenses),  nearly  $1,000,000;  for  1893-94, 
nearly  $300,000. 

Wisconsin  has  put  $1,200,000  into  buildings  for  its  Univer- 
sity. It  grants  it  a  permanent  tax  of  one-eighth  (1)  of  a  mill 
on  a  dollar.  Also,  for  six  years,  one-  tenth  (tV)  of  a  mill,  for 
buildings,  etc.  :  this  yields  $60,000  to  $70,000  a  year.  One  per 
cent,  of  the  "railroad  license  tax,"  assigned  to  the  College  of 
Engineering,  gives  more  than  $10,000  a  year.  Further  specific 
appropriations,  of  recent  dates,  amount  to  $110,000. 

Michigan  gives  its  University  a  tax  of  one-sixth  (i)  of  a  mill 
on  a  dollar. 

Minnesota,  three-  twentieths  (^o)  of  a  mill. 

Nebraska  (reported),  three-eighths  (i)  of  a  mill. 

Indiana,  one-half  (-J-)  of  a  mill,  for  thirteen  years,  for  endow- 
ment. 

These  States  evidently  take  a  just  pride  in  their  Universities, 
and  have  a  settled  policy  of  affording  them  the  needed  support. 
California's  fractional  tax  is  less  than  any  of  the  above,  one-  tenth 
-fV  of  a  mill. 


MARTIN 

President  of  the  University  of  California. 
,  December  20,   1894. 


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